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Nick Barnard

Bruch + Tveitt (Berlin Classics)

A well-played but unbalanced programme [NB]

Zador celebration 8574262

Zador: Celebration Music (Naxos)

The Zádor rehabilitation continues with a valuable and enjoyable seventh disc [NB]

Portraits of a Mind VW Albion ALBCD057

Portraits of a Mind (Albion Records)

Tenor Alessandro Fisher shines in a superb recital of beautiful music old and new [NB]

Korngold: String Quartets No. 1-3 (Naxos)

Remarkable playing that misses the range of Korngold’s elusive moods [NB]

Rota: Orchestral Works & Film Music (Capriccio)

Fine performances demonstrating the range and variety of Rota’s music [NB]

Stojowski sym C5464

Stojowski: Symphony (Capriccio)

Two very attractive late Romantic works in excellent performances well recorded [NB]

Raff Chamber Music Vol3 MDG30722732

Raff: Chamber Music (MDG)

Attractive if not profound music superbly played [NB]

strauss lieder choir rondeau

R Strauss: Letzte Lieder (Rondeau Production)

Strauss songs transfigured in breathtakingly beautiful performances [NB]

Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 7 & 9 (Hyperion)

A beautifully rendered conclusion to the Brabbins/Hyperion survey of the Vaughan Williams symphonies [NB]

sawyers concertos nimbus

Sawyers: String Concertos (Nimbus)

The sixth impressive release of consistently impressive music [NB]

Saint-Saëns: Violin Sonatas (BIS)

Very attractive music beautifully played and caught in ideally sympathetic sound [NB]

schumann symphonies bis

Schumann: Symphonies (BIS)

A comprehensive survey stunningly played and beautifully recorded [NB]

Glière: String Quartets (DUX)

Attractively confident and assured quartets in dramatic, virtuosic readings [NB]

Wang project 4864478

Yuja Wang (piano) The American Project (Deutsche Grammophon)

Yuja Wang scintillates in an exciting new large-scale American concerto [NB]

Shostakovich: Symphonies 12 & 15 (Chandos)

Well played and well engineered but lacking character [NB]

Schubert symphony 14076

Schubert: “Death and the Maiden” Symphony (High Definition Tape Transfers)

Enthusiastic but flawed performances by student orchestras [NB]

Bonds choral works Avie AV2589

Bonds: Choral Works (Avie Records)

Music of Protest and Pride fervently performed [NB]

vaughan williams somm

Vaughan Williams: Live Vol. 4 (SOMM Recordings)

More treasures lovingly restored – but without the revelations of the earlier volumes [NB]

Matthew-Walker Bebbington Somm CD0662

Matthew-Walker: A Bad Night in Los Angeles (SOMM Recordings)

Engaging and wide-ranging music played with style and conviction [NB]

Sutermeister: Orchestral Works Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)

First recordings of impressive song cycles, authoritatively performed [NB]

Chants garnier lbm048

Chants nostalgiques (B Records)

A well programmed and well performed recital of French song from La Belle Époque [NB]

Schönberg, Berg: Transfigurations (Alpha Classics)

Intelligently programmed and well played key works of the Second Viennese School [NB]

Mahler Turina Symphony No 2 Afkham Orquesta y Coro OCNE 8436552740095

Mahler: Symphony 2 (INAEM)

The premiere recording of a skilful reduced orchestration of practical value in the concert hall but not for home listening [NB]

Howells: Piano Music Vol. 2 (Naxos)

An important survey played with skill, insight and care [NB]